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Former Benson High teacher fights for his job, claims district targeted him for views against Planned Parenthood

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Bill Diss, a Benson High teacher who was placed on administrative leave in March, testifies at a Thursday night hearing with an audience that included board member Steve Buel (right). Diss claims the district unfairly targeted him for his views against Planned Parenthood while officials said he was consistently disrespectful to students.
(Nicole Dungca/The Oregonian)

But at a public hearing Thursday night, district officials said they are rightfully firing a math teacher who was regularly disrespectful to students and other administrators.

After 11 years teaching at Benson, Diss was suspended for “unprofessional, intimidating and/or harassing behavior” at one point and was eventually placed on administrative leave in March. Superintendent Carole Smith recommended dismissing him in May, but Diss requested a pre-dismissal hearing to challenge the action.

View full sizeBill Diss, a former Benson High teacher who claims the district unfairly targeted him for his views on Planned Parenthood, was surrounded by supporters at a Thursday night public hearing. Nicole Dungca/The Oregonian

The hearing, which attracted dozens of Diss supporters and religious advocates, was held before Regional Administrator Sascha Perrins. Perrins, who is a district employee under Smith but considers dismissal appeals for the geographic area that includes Benson, will present his own recommendation to the school board, which will ultimately vote on the issue.

Elizabeth McKanna, the attorney who represented Diss, said she believes he was unfairly targeted for his beliefs. In addition, Diss says he should have been placed on a “plan of assistance,” which districts develop for low-performing or struggling teachers, rather than dismissed.

“We believe the district is trying to end his employment because he has been active in the political community and religious community on certain issues, and sometimes he has challenged the district,” McKanna said.

Diss is a devout Catholic who was a vocal opponent of Planned Parenthood’s new Northeast Portland headquarters, which opened in 2010. He has protested the organization several times at school board meetings for providing abortions. He’s accused the non-profit of encouraging sexual activity among teenagers.

Stephanie Harper, legal counsel for the district human resources department, said that Diss had a pattern of behavior that was damaging to kids and effective working relationships. She said his conduct forced administrators to give written directives to correct his action.

Diss was reprimanded in Sept. 2012 for not allowing employees of the Teen Outreach Program, an optional teenage pregnancy prevention initiative, speak to students in his classroom. Planned Parenthood administers the local chapter of the program, which is funded in the district by a federal Department of Health and Human Services grant.

According to multiple district employees questioned by Harper at the hearing, Diss frequently prompted complaints from students who said he yelled at them. One student told district officials Diss said they would end up on Southeast 82nd Avenue, a reference the student associated with prostitution or drug addiction, according to Carol Campbell, Benson’s former principal.

Campbell, who is now at Grant, also testified that Diss had used another student’s name in a test question, in which the student was in a burning building. Other students told Campbell that Diss had frequently picked on that same student, she testified.

Frank Scotto, the human resources regional director, said he was concerned about reports of Diss often yelling and ordering students to address him as “sir.”

“It was beyond firm and strict,” said Scotto, calling Diss “militaristic” and “harsh.”

Meanwhile, Diss defended himself by saying he had high expectations for his students. He touted letters from various students who said he was able to help them achieve their dreams. Moses Davis, a former Benson High teacher, testified that Diss was a good educator who regularly pushed his students.

Kathi Koenig, the Oregon Education Association Uniserv consultant who helped represent Diss with the district, said he should have not have been disciplined or fired, but put on a plan of assistance.

Harper maintained state law allows the district to dismiss employees for a variety of reasons, including performance and conduct issues that were on the record for Diss.